Shoe insert

ABSTRACT

A shoe insert for footwear worn on a user&#39;s foot, and associated method of manufacturing the shoe insert, including a first layer including silicone and a second layer including fur and disposed on the first layer, where the second layer is arranged to contact the user&#39;s foot when the footwear including the shoe insert is worn.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a shoe insert, particularly a shoe insert including a fur layer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shoe inserts and insoles are support devices that may be placed in users' footwear to provide additional comfort and/or relief when running, walking, or otherwise wearing the footwear. Such inserts are predominantly gel- or foam-based. The structure of these inserts is typically either a single layer of gel or foam or a two-layer structure of a gel or foam base and a sock liner disposed on the base. The sock liner is often made of a fabric material. The sock liner layer is customarily very thin and helps to ensure that the user's foot is not in direct contact with the gel or foam material. There exists a need for a superior shoe insert providing further comfort and support.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, in one aspect, the invention features a shoe insert for footwear worn on a user's foot, including a first layer including silicone and a second layer including fur and disposed on the first layer, where the second layer is arranged to contact the user's foot when the footwear including the shoe insert is worn.

Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The first layer may include a gel, a foam, or a rubber. The fur may be artificial fur or real fur, and the real fur may be fur from a fox, rabbit, mink, beaver, stoat or ermine, otter, sable, coyote, chinchilla, raccoon, lynx, or possum. The first layer may include a top side and a bottom side and the second layer may include a top side and a bottom side, the top side of the first layer being affixed to the bottom side of the second layer by an adhesive. The adhesive may be glue. The first layer and the second layer may have the shape of a shoe insole.

In general, in another aspect, the invention features a method of manufacturing a shoe insert for footwear worn on a user's foot, including disposing a second layer including fur on a first layer including silicone, where the second layer is arranged to contact the user's foot when the footwear including the shoe insert is worn.

Implementations of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The first layer may include a gel, a foam, or a rubber. The fur may be artificial fur or real fur, and the real fur may be fur from a fox, rabbit, mink, beaver, stoat or ermine, otter, sable, coyote, chinchilla, raccoon, lynx, or possum. The first layer may include a top side and a bottom side and the second layer may include a top side and a bottom side, the top side of the first layer being affixed to the bottom side of the second layer by an adhesive. The adhesive may be glue. The first layer and the second layer may have the shape of a shoe insole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a shoe insert according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a shoe insert according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The shoe insert of the present invention may include two layers. The first layer is a base layer, or bottom layer, which may include silicone. The first layer may be a gel-, foam-, or rubber-based layer. The second layer is a surface layer, or top layer, which includes fur. The fur may be artificial or real. Artificial fur is any material made of synthetic fibers and resembling real fur. Real fur is a piece of the pelt of an animal. Real fur may be selected from, but not limited to, the following animals: foxes, rabbits, minks, beavers, stoats/ermines, otters, sables, coyotes, chinchillas, raccoons, lynxes, and possums.

The two layers may both have the shape of traditional shoe insoles. The two layers may be affixed to each other at a top side of the first layer and a bottom side of the second layer. The two layers may be affixed by an adhesive. In a preferred embodiment, the two layers are affixed by glue.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a side view and a top view, respectively, of a shoe insert 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Shoe insert 1 has a first layer 10 including silicone and a second layer 20 including fur.

It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular feature or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe insert for footwear worn on a user's foot, comprising: a first layer comprising silicone; and a second layer comprising fur and disposed on the first layer; wherein the second layer is arranged to contact the user's foot when the footwear including the shoe insert is worn.
 2. The shoe insert of claim 1, wherein the first layer comprises a gel, a foam, or a rubber.
 3. The shoe insert of claim 1, wherein the fur is artificial fur.
 4. The shoe insert of claim 1, wherein the fur is real fur.
 5. The shoe insert of claim 4, wherein the real fur is fur from a fox, rabbit, mink, beaver, stoat or ermine, otter, sable, coyote, chinchilla, raccoon, lynx, or possum.
 6. The shoe insert of claim 1, wherein the first layer includes a top side and a bottom side and the second layer includes a top side and a bottom side, the top side of the first layer being affixed to the bottom side of the second layer by an adhesive.
 7. The shoe insert of claim 6, wherein the adhesive is glue.
 8. The shoe insert of claim 1, wherein the first layer and the second layer have the shape of a shoe insole.
 9. A method of manufacturing a shoe insert for footwear worn on a user's foot, comprising: providing a first layer comprising silicone; and disposing a second layer comprising fur on the first layer; wherein the second layer is arranged to contact the user's foot when the footwear including the shoe insert is worn.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first layer comprises a gel, a foam, or a rubber.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the fur is artificial fur.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the fur is real fur.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the real fur is fur from a fox, rabbit, mink, beaver, stoat or ermine, otter, sable, coyote, chinchilla, raccoon, lynx, or possum.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first layer includes a top side and a bottom side and the second layer includes a top side and a bottom side, the top side of the first layer being affixed to the bottom side of the second layer by an adhesive.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the adhesive is glue.
 16. The method of claim 9, wherein the first layer and the second layer have the shape of a shoe insole. 